Lamp-dimming device for motor-cars.



w. A. GREENIJAW. LAMP DIMMING DEVICE FOR MOTOR CARS. APPLICATION FILEDJAILS, 1911.

1,005, 1 97. Patented 001. 10, 1911.

Vlitnesses: W 'lizjiedor:

arren rcenlaw 43721 W 1 M '3 WARREN A. GREENLAW, OF MELROSE,MASSACHUSETT LA'llII]?-lI)I1VlI1VIING DEVICE FOR MOTOR-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1c, 1911.

Application filed January 3, 1911. Serial No. 600,835.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VARREN' A. GREEN- LAW, a citizen of the UnitedStates of Amerion, and a resident of Melrose, in the county of Middlcsexand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Lamp-Dimming Devices for Motor-Cars, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle lamps and particularlythat class of lamps which are of the Searchlight type, the object of theinvention being to provide a means for temporarily changing the angle ofthe rays from the reflector so as to pre; vent persons coming intheopposite direction from becoming blinded thereby.

Heretofore many devices have been provided in which disks or othermembers are moved relative to the burner of the lamp so as to entirelyout off the light or the rays from the reflector. These devices havebeen found more or less objectionable owing to taking up so much roomwithin the lamp, and as a consequence cutting oif many of the rays fromthe reflector when the full effect therefrom is desired.

To overcome these objections is the object of the present invention,-and it consists in making-the burner itself slidable in a suitablebearing formed upon the lamp casing and providing a means for movingthis burner in its bearing by means of air pressure under the control ofthe chaufi'eur or other operator.

The invention further consists in certain novel features of constructionand arrangement of parts which will be readily understood by referenceto the description of the drawings and to the claims hereinafter given.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 represents a front view of a lamp embodyingthe features of the present invention. Fig. 2 representsa verticalsection of the same, the cutting plane being on line 2,:2 on'Fig. 1,showing in elevation a tube and bulb for supplying air-pressure to movethe burner in its bearing, and Figs. 3 and 4- represent respectivelyhorizontal sections, the cutting )lanes being on line 3, 3 and 4t, 4 onFig. 2 of the drawings.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the several figuresof the drawlugs.

In the drawings, 10 represents a casing of. a lamp of any well-knownconstruction, provided with a reflector 11 .and a burner 12. Secured tothe casing is a radial member 13 provided with an opening therethroughand a chamber 1.5 parallel to said opening. In the opening 14 isslidably mounted the tubular portion 16 of the burner 12, having securedto its lower ends the shouldered nozzle 17, which is adapted to limitthe upward movement of said member 16 in said opening 14. To the nozzle17 is secured a flexible tubular member 18, the opposite end of which isconnected to a fixed pipe 19 leading to any suitable source of gassupply. Secured to the upper end of the member 16 is a member 20, havinga lateral projection to which is secured the piston rod 21 can tendingdownwardly through the closing cap 22 of the chamber 15, and havingmounted on its lower end the piston 23. Beneath the piston 23 is an airinlet pipe 24, the outer end of which communicates with the flexibletubular member 25, having a bulb 26 at its opposite end, by squeezingwhich air is adapted to be forced into the chamber 15 below the piston23 and thereby raise the burner 12 so that the center of its flame willbe moved from the point a to point i), as in dicated in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. The curvature of the reflector 11 is such that when the centerof the flame is at the point i a the rays from the reflector wiil beprojectedparallel to the axis of the lamp 10. When, however, thechaufi'eur or operator sees a motor car coming in the opposite directionand it is desired to prevent further outward projection of the rays oflight to prevent the operator of the other machine from becoming blindedthereby, the chant: fe'ur or operator having the bulb 26 under hiscontrol, squeezes the same, thereby-form ing air through. the tube 25into the chamber 1'5, and causes the burner 12 to be raised so that thecenter of its flame is at the point 6, the member 18 making a flexibleconnection between thegaspipe 19 and the slidabletubular member 16 topermit this movement. When the bumer l2 has reached the point 2') therays of light from the reflector will be projected downwardly therefrom,thereby making it impossible for any rays to be projected that would beliable to blind the operators in approaching cars. While thisobjectionable feature is wholly overcome by the present invention, italso serves another purpose, and that is, when thus operated, the

- rays are thrown downwardly so that the road in advance of the car isplainly visible, while, with the other devices heretofore mentioned,when the light is dimmed by shutting off the rays of light from thereflector, the road in advance of the car is darkened. Often, in drivingalong a coun-' try road, where ditches exist on either side thereof, thelamp may be turned slightly about its vertical axis and the burnerlifted, as has' been heretofore described, so thatthe rays from thereflector may be projected downwardly and to one side of the car,thereby keeping, the ditch in view at all times and thus avoiding anaccident' It is believed that the operation and many advantages of theinvention Will be thor-' oughly understood Without any furtherdescription.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim:

1. In a lamp, the combination with a reflector; a slidable burnernormally positioned at a predetermined point opposite said .reflectorand provided with a laterally projecting member; and means for forcingfluid against said member and thereby mov ing said burner from saidposition.

2. In a lamp, the combination with a reflector; a slidable burnernormally positioned at a predetermined point opposite said reflector;and means for applying fluid pressure to said burner to move it from itsnormal position.

3. In a lamp, the combination with a refiector; a .slidable burnernormally positioned at a predetermined point opposite said reflector;means for applying fluid pressure to said burnerto move it from itsnormal position; and means for limiting said movement.

4., In a lamp, the combination with a reflector; a slidable burnernormally positioned at a predetermined point opposite said reflector; apiston connected therewith and movable in an inclosed chamber; and meansfor forcing fluid into said chamber to operate said piston.

In a lamp, the combination with a reflector; a radial extension to thecasing of said lamp provided with an opening there through and a chamberparallel to said opening; a burner slidably mounted in said openmg;

and means under the control of the operator for moving; said piston.

(3. In a lamp, the combination with a reflcctor; a radial extension tothe casing of said lamp provided with an opening therethrough and achamber parallel to said opening; a burner slidably mounted in saidopening; a piston movable in said chamber; a connection between saidpiston and burner; and means for forcing fluid into said chamber beneathsaid piston.

7. In a lamp, the combination with a reflector; a slidable brrnernormally positioned at a predetermined point opposite said reflector andprovided with a laterally projecting member; a supply pipe; a flexibletubular member between said pipe and burner; and means for forcing fluidagainst said laterally projecting member and thereby moving saidburncrfrom said position.

Signed by me at at Post Oliice Sq., this 23d day of December, 1910.

IVARREN A. GREENLAW.

IViti" sses: v

\VALTER E. LOMBARD, NATHAN G. LOMBARD.

a piston movable in said chamber; a' connection between said piston andburner;

